I'm finally making the leap and I am going to invest in a nice rod. I have my eye set on the Sage TXL 3wt.. Does anyone out there have a TXL or know anyone that has used one?

I would love to get some opinions.

wsgarvey

02-23-2005, 12:51 PM

Tried out a TXL a couple of weeks ago at the Chicago FF Show -- fell in love with it. Light, accurate -- a delight to cast.

I'm set on a 4wt 7'10. Be anxious to see what others say about it. This will be my first Sage.

BLACK FRANCIS

02-23-2005, 12:54 PM

i have cast a txl briefly and it is a sweet casting rod. loads short and has power long also it just felt good to cast. the cork is a little short imho so you should take a test drive before plunking down any dough if you have big hands.

solitude

02-23-2005, 01:01 PM

I'm glad to hear you guys like the rod. My casting skills are nothing to brag about, but I figure it would be good to continue my learning on a rod that casts well and gives you a solid feel of the line loading, etc..

If I can bend your ears for one more question:

I wanted an ultralight that would be short enough to handle some of the smaller streams here in PA but also be able to hold its own on longer casts (mid-size streams) and bigger fish. What would your recommendations be for 7' vs. 7'10"??

Thanks.

wsgarvey

02-23-2005, 01:10 PM

I too was considering a shorter rod (7' to 7'6); fun and easy to cast in tight situations. But my bigger need is a more all round rod. This is leading me to the longer rod primarily for line control after the cast - mending, high-sticking, etc.

Nooksack Mac

02-23-2005, 04:31 PM

Having fished small streams with rods from 6' to 8 1/2', I don't think that the differences are noticeable, except near the margins. If you want a high-performance stick for the needs you list, consider one from 7 1/2' to 8' 4". Then you might want to add one for really tight little streams; something like my 6 1/2' built on a low-modulous Lamiglas graphite blank. There's simply no need to pay for any high performance parameters for this shorter rod.

solitude

02-24-2005, 10:19 AM

What would be the noticeable down-sides to choosing the 7' over the 7'10"?

zugbugz

02-28-2005, 10:15 PM

Solitude, generally speaking, the 7'10 will be easier to handle. All other things being equal, it will be more forgiving to cast. There are times when a 7' might serve you better (especially in brushy, boulder strewn, tiny little streams like we have in AZ). For the other times, the 7'10" will give you a little more reach for getting your fly into hard to reach pools, and/or around obstacles...a big plus when you can't wade in. Generally, a longer rod will roll cast better, especially with light lines. As far as forgiveness goes, the fly will be a little higher above your head, so you won't have to concentrate on keeping the loop as perfect (although that's always a desirable thing) to avoid tangles and the all-embarrassing fly self-hooking (don't laugh, this can happen a lot on tight streams when you're trying to avoid trees, etc)! IMO, the only real advantages of shorter rods is casting room. They do have their place...but generally, if you can have only one light line rod, 7 1/2 to 8' is the "right" size. Remember, these are my opinions and as you know, everyone has at least one! :D

solitude

03-01-2005, 08:36 AM

Thanks alot for all the great advice. This is a great forum for a great sport and hobby.

BigDave

03-01-2005, 08:44 AM

I use a 7'6" full flex rod and for me, that's short enough.

IMHO you lose the ability to high-stick and mend easily if you go much shorter than that. I'm looking forward to casting the TXL but am a fan of softer rods for tippet protection on small streams.

solitude

03-07-2005, 12:12 PM

Finally did it!! I bought the 7'10" TXL 3wt. and supplemented it with a Ross Rhythm #0. Now all I need is some nice weather. Thanks for all the great feedback.

wsgarvey

03-13-2005, 12:20 PM

Way to go! Nice reel too. What line did you get? The Sage DT they say was designed for the TXL?

Give us a report after you've given it a workout -- be anxious to hear.

solitude

03-14-2005, 12:11 PM

I filled it with RIO Selective Trout. Had the same placed on my 5 wt. last year and had no complaints.